• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.248-260
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• 2009

With regard to oversea mineral resources development, recent trend has been changed from a simple capital investment to a direct development of the resources. In relation to the stability of a slope in large open-pit coal mine, groundwater system was investigated and the validity of horizontal drainage hole was evaluated in Pasir coal mine, Indonesia. In this work, various field tests were carried out for a characterization of groundwater system, which included in-situ permeability measurement, tracer test and monitoring of groundwater levels. Especially, the influence of SM river on the characteristics of the groundwater flow system was mainly inspected. For the permeability measurement, Guelph permeameter was employed, and was found that sandstone was more permeable than mudstone and coal seam. From a comparison of lithological structure and the results of groundwater level monitoring, sandstone and thin coal seam with fractures were found to be a main channel for groundwater flow. In the results of tracer tests, the effect of SM river on the groundwater system depends on the geological structure of its base. To identify the effect of horizontal drainage holes, 2-D groundwater modeling was performed. Four different cases were tested, which are different from the length of drainage hole and the existence of pond on top of the slope. To enhance the drainage effect and slope stability, the drainage hole should be drilled to the depth of coal seam layer, which provides a main pathway of groundwater flow and embedded by sandstone. For this purpose, correct identification of surrounding geology should be preceded.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.270-278
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• 2003

Transparency on the Total System Performance Assessment (TSPA) is the key issue to enhance the public acceptance for a permanent high level radioactive repository. Traditionally, the study on features, events and processes (FEPs) and associated scenarios has been regarded as the starting point to open the communicative discussion on TSPA such as what to evaluate, how to evaluate and how to translate outcomes into more friendly language that many stakeholders can easily understand and react with. However, in most cases, it has been limited to one way communication, because it is difficult for stakeholders outside the performance assessment field to assess the details on the story of the safety assessment, scenario and technical background of it. Fortunately, the advent of the internet era opens up the possibility of two way communication from the beginning of the performance assessment so that every stakeholder can exchange their keen opinions on the safety issues. To achieve it, KAERI develops the systematic approach from the FEPs to Assessment methods flow chart. All information is integrated into the web based program named FEAS (FEp to Assessment through Scenario development) under development in KAERI. In parallel, two independent systems are also under development the web based QA(Quality Assurance) system and the PA(Performance Assessment) input database. It is ideal to integrate the input data base with the QA system so that every data in the system can checked whenever necessary. Throughout the next phase R&D starting from the year 2003, these three systems will be consolidated into one unified system.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.52-69
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• 2002

The WIPP (Waste Isolation Pilot Plant), located 42km east of Carlsbad, New Mexico (NM), in bedded salt 655m below the surface, is a mined repository constructed by the US DOE for the permanent disposal of transuranic (TRU) wastes generated by activities related to defence of the US since 1970. Its historical disposal operation began in March 1999 following receipt of a final permit from the State of NM after a positive certification decision for the WIPP was issued by the EPA in 1998, as the first licensed facility in the US for the deep geologic disposal of radioactive wastes. The CCA (Compliance Certification Application) for the WIPP that the DOE submitted to the EPA in 1966 was supported by an extensive performance assessment (PA) carried out by Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), with so-called 1996 PA. Even though such PA methodologies could be greatly different from the way we consider for HLW disposal in Korea largely due to quite different geologic formations in which repository are likely to be located, a review on lots of works done through the WIPP PA studies could be the most important lessons that we can learn from in view of current situation in Korea where an initial phase of conceptual studies on HLW disposal has been just started. The objective of this art report is an overview of the methodology used in the recent WIPP PA to support the US DOE WIPP CCA and some relevant results completed by SNL.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.320-331
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• 2015

This paper presents a case study of an enhanced geothermal system(EGS) demonstration project conducted in $Gro{\ss}$ $Sch{\ddot{o}}nebeck$, Northerm Germany, focusing on hydraulic stimulation. The project was conducted with doublet system in sandstone and volcanic formations at 4 - 4.4 km depth. Under normal faulting to strike-slip faulting stress regime, hydraulic stimulations were conducted at injection and production wells by massive waterfrac and gel-proppant fracturing. Injectivity index increased from $0.97m^3/(hr^*MPa)$ to $7.5m^3/(hr^*MPa)$ and productivity index increased from $2.4m^3/(hr^*MPa)$ to $10.1m^3/(hr^*MPa)$ by a series of hydraulic stimulations at both wells. After circulation tests through injection and production wells, however, productivity index decreased from $8.9m^3/(hr^*MPa)$ to $0.6m^3/(hr^*MPa)$ in two years. Slip tendency analysis for the stimulation in volcanic layer estimated the required pressure for shear slip and its preferred orientations and it showed reasonable match with actual stimulation results. Through the microseismicity observation for the stimulation of volcanic formation, only 80 seismic events with its moment magnitudes in -1.8<$M_W$<-1.0 were observed, which are unexpectedly low for EGS hydraulic stimulation.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.348-362
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• 2016

This study describes the results of blasting overbreak analysis using the stereo photogrammetry method in an underground mine. For comparing its quantitative measurements, LIDAR system was applied to the test site and blasting overbreak was analyzed for 4 test blasting operations. The difference in values obtained from the two methods showed only 0.81% in volume and 1.05% in area, respectively, therefore authors verify the field applicability of stereo photogrammetry method on underground mine. The volumes of overbreak measured from 4 test blastings were $29.84m^3$, $22.45m^3$, $14.54m^3$ and $5.46m^3$, respectively, in photogrammetry analysis on excavation surface, and it was shown that the volume of overbreak decreases with blasting sequence. From these measurements, it is concluded that the stereo photogrammetry method can describe the underground excavation surface effectively and the its quantitative data can be used for analysis of volume, area and overbreak of excavation zone.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.209-231
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• 2018

Severe mine disasters have continued to occur around the world. To ensure worker's health and safety and enhance the productivity, a number of studies have been conducted for the development of wireless sensor network (WSN), environmental monitoring, and communication system in underground mines. An increase in development and application of these systems has just begun with the introduction of information and communication technology into the mining industry in Korea, and yet there have been only a few studies that considered the underground mine ventilation system. This study presented the literature review on the development of WSN and environmental monitoring in underground mines, and especially, on 7 subjects in terms of underground mine ventilation. Moreover, studies that especially conducted real-time environmental monitoring were reviewed and categorized by each commercial software commonly utilized for the ventilation network analysis. For the application in domestic underground mines, further issues were discussed regarding research subjects that may be needed in the future and domestic environmental standards that has been used in the underground mine operation. This paper is expected to be useful for the development of WSN-based environmental monitoring and communication system, as well as for related studies in the future.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.403-413
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• 2015

This paper presents the cutter bit damage due to the rotation speed of shield TBM cutter head in the mixed ground. The efficient of cutter bits and disk cutter are very important for tunnelling in mixed ground. In particular, this research is focused on the performance of cutter bits during excavation in mixed ground which is consist of the weathered soil and rock formation. In order to carry out this research, the experimental works are prepared performed by using the scaled shield TBM cutter bits evaluation machine developed. The mixed ground is prepared considering with a scale effect of tunnel size. Three different rotation speeds of shield TBM cutter head (i.e. 2, 3, 4 rpm) are applied in the experimental work. The drag forces acting on the cutter bits are measured at each cutter bit during rotation of cutter head. It is also analysed the variation of drag forces due to the rotation speed of shield TBM cutter head. The results of this research are clearly shown that the drag forces acting on the cutter bits are jumped up at the boundary between weathered soil and rock. It is also indicated that the jamping drag forces are increased with increasing the rotation speed of the cutter head. It is found from the research that the higher rotation speed of shield TBM cutter head will be high risk in the mixed ground. It is, therefore, suggested that the use of lower rotation speed of shield TBM cutter head is recommended for reducing the cutter bit damage in practice.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.161-170
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• 2012

To provide domestic values of input parameters in a safety assessment of radioactive waste disposal under domestic deep underground environments, various kinds of experiments have been carried out under KURT (KAERI Underground Research Tunnel) conditions. The input parameters were classified, and some of them were selected for this study by the criteria of importance. The domestic experimental data under KURT environments were given top priority in the data review process. Foreign data under similar conditions to KURT were also gathered. The collected data were arranged and the statistical calculations were processed. The properties and distribution of the data were explained and compared to foreign values in view of their validity. The following parameters were analysed: failure time and early time failure rate of a container, solubility of nuclides, porosity and density of the buffer, and distribution coefficients of nuclides in the geomedia, hydraulic conductivity, diffusion depth of nuclides, groundwater flow rate, fracture aperture, length of internal fracture, and width of faulted rock mass in the host rock.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.151-159
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• 2012

The potential repository domains for A-KRS (Advanced Korean Reference Disposal System for High Level Wastes) in geological characteristics of KURT (KAERI Underground Research Tunnel) facility site were proposed to develop a repository system design and to perform the safety assessment. The host rock of KURT facility site is one of major Mesozoic plutonic rocks in Korean peninsula, two-mica granite, which was influenced by hydrothermal alteration. The topographical features control the flow lines of surface and groundwater toward south-easterly and all waters discharge to Geum River. Fracture zones distributed in study site are classified into order 2 magnitude and their dominant orientations are N-S and E-W strike. From the geological features and fracture zones, the potential repository domains for A-KRS were determined spatially based on the following conditions: (1) fracture zone must not cross the repository; and (2) the repository must stay away from the fracture zones greater than 50 m. The western region of the fracture zones in the N-S direction with a depth below 200 m from the surface was sufficient for A-KRS repository. Because most of the fracture zones in N-S direction were inclined toward the east, we expected to find a homogeneous rock mass in the western region rather than in the eastern region. The lower left domain of potential domains has more suitable geological and hydrogeological conditions for A-KRS repository.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.69-76
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• 2012

Theoretical backgrounds on the experimental methods of explosive welding, explosive forming and shock consolidation of powders are introduced. Explosive welding experiments of titanium (Ti) and stainless steel (SUS 304) plate were carried out. It was revealed that a series of waves of metal jet are generated in the contact surface between both materials; and that the optimal collision velocity and collision angle is about 2,100~2,800 m/s and $15{\sim}20^{\circ}$, respectively. Also, explosive forming experiments of Al plate were performed and compared to a conventional press forming method. The results confirmed that the shock-loaded Al plate has a larger curvature deformation than those made using conventional press forming. For shock consolidation of powders, the propagation behaviors of a detonation wave and underwater shock wave generated by explosion of an explosive are investigated by means of numerical calculation. The results revealed that the generation and convergence of reflected waves occur at the wall and center position of water column, and also the peak pressure of the converged reflected waves was 20 GPa which exceeds the detonation pressure. As results from the consolidation experiments of metal/ceramic powders ($Fe_{11.2}La_2O_3Co_{0.7}Si_{1.1}$), shock-consolidated $Fe_{11.2}La_2O_3Co_{0.7}Si_{1.1}$ bulk without cracks was successfully obtained by adapting the suggested water container and strong bonding between powder particles was confirmed through microscopic observations.